Glasgow full-back is "probably" out of Tests with Japan, South
Africa and Australia next month, says Scott Johnson

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg looks almost certain to miss his country’s entire autumn Test programme after being forced to undergo surgery on the wrist injury he picked up in Glasgow Warriors’ recent RaboDirect PRO12 victory over Leinster.

It had been hoped that Hogg, 21, who was one of three Scots originally chosen for the Lions’ summer tour to Australia, would have recovered in time to take part in this weekend’s Heineken Cup action, but Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend confirmed that the damage was worse than first thought.

“It’s just one of those injuries that players pick up,” said Townsend. “It’s really not all that serious, but it needed more attention and it just happens to have come at a bad time for us.”

Scotland will take on Japan, South Africa and Australia - in that order - at Murrayfield during the November Test window. The indications are that Hogg, who became Scotland’s youngest international for almost 50 years when he made his debut against Wales last year, will have recovered in time for the Australia game, but a lack of match practice would suggest that he will not be chosen for the match.

To make matters worse for interim Scotland coach Scott Johnson, Peter Murchie, also of Glasgow, has been ruled out of action for as much as six months after dislocating his shoulder in a club game with Stirling County.

With Hogg and Sean Maitland with the Lions in Australia, Murchie made his Test debut at full-back on Scotland’s close-season tour of South Africa and would have been in the running to fill the berth next month. In his absence, Maitland is likely to be chosen there again, with cover provided by Greig Tonks of Edinburgh.

Johnson said: “Are we counting Hoggy out of the Autumn Tests? Yeah, probably. There is a chance that he might make a game but that is unlikely. However, this is just a chance to blood someone else.”

Meanwhile, Johnson confirmed that he has not given up hope that Tomasso Allan, the former Scotland Under-20 fly-half, might have a change of heart after throwing in his lot with Italy. However, he stressed that he was not chasing the young Perpignan star and that he only wanted to pick players who were unequivocally committed to Scotland.

“Tommy was always on our radar,” Johnson said. “We haven't said anything else. We have been in dialogue with him, but - and I will keep saying this - I will only pick players who want to play for Scotland.

“It's not about a change of heart. The conversation we had will remain between myself and the lad. He's a young man caught in the middle of something. He's got to sort his mind out and we will give him time to do that.

“I don't want Scotland to be a second class citizen in any negotiations, that goes for anyone. We're not going to be beggars to any person. We're a proud rugby nation and I want the players to be proud Scottish rugby people playing for their country. That's non negotiable.”

Earlier this week, Allan, the son of an Italian mother and Scottish father, was named in the Italy squad for next month’s matches against Australia, Fiji and Argentina. Even a brief appearance as a substitute in any one of those games would be enough to tie him to Italy for all time.

Johnson hinted that his policy of Scotland’s pool of Test players will continue next month. The coach awarded 10 new caps on the summer trip to South Africa, and more look likely to be handed out in November.

“There are a couple more out there as well,” said the coach. “With the World Cup coming up, we need to find out if it is a year too far for some, or if the mileage on the clock is right. It's a juggling act but it's my job to do it.”